Producing food without sunshine using artificial Photosynthesis

[Elderberry]

Tech Explorist  ByAmit Malewar June 24, 2022

Imagine someday giant vessels growing tomato plants in the dark and on Mars.

Growing global food demand is currently facing a major constraint of efficient energy conversion using photosynthesis. Photosynthesis has evolved in plants for millions of years to turn water, carbon dioxide, and the energy from sunlight into plant biomass and the foods we eat.

Now, scientists at UC Riverside and the University of Delaware have found a way to bypass the need for biological photosynthesis altogether and create food independent of sunlight by using artificial photosynthesis.

“Here we describe the development of a hybrid inorganic–biological system for food production. A two-step electrochemical process converts CO2 to acetate, which serves as a carbon and energy source for algae, yeast, mushroom-producing fungus, lettuce, rice, cowpea, green pea, canola, tomato, pepper, tobacco, and Arabidopsis. Coupling this system of carbon fixation to photovoltaics offers an alternative, more energy-efficient approach to food production.” Study mentions.

Food-producing organisms consume acetate in the dark to grow. Combined with solar panels to generate electricity to power the electrocatalysis, this hybrid organic-inorganic system could increase the conversion efficiency of sunlight into food, which is almost up to 18 times more efficient for some foods.

“With our approach, we sought to identify a new way of producing food that could break through the limits normally imposed by biological photosynthesis,” said corresponding author Robert Jinkerson, a UC Riverside assistant professor of chemical and environmental engineering.

“We were able to grow food-producing organisms without any contributions from biological photosynthesis. Typically, these organisms are cultivated on sugars derived from plants or inputs derived from petroleum—which is a product of biological photosynthesis that took place millions of years ago. This technology is a more efficient method of turning solar energy into food, as compared to food production that relies on biological photosynthesis,” said Elizabeth Hann, a doctoral candidate in the Jinkerson Lab and co-lead author of the study.

More: https://www.techexplorist.com/producing-food-without-sunshine-using-artificial-photosynthesis/52068/

[GtHawk]

This will be useful when the super volcanos here on Earth erupt and block out the sun. Or when the assholes pushing to orbit giant solar reflectors get their way.

[rustynail]

 giant vessels growing tomato plants in the dark and on Mars.....are they non-GMO?

[DCPatriot]

They are constructing a 760,000 sq. ft. campus in Gaithersburg, Maryland for "BIO-Engineering".

Always thought they were going to be hangar-size hot-houses for tomatoes, lettuce, marijuana.   

[roamer_1]

I have done a bit of this... Growing starts particularly... Since we can't put anything in the ground till June, 'starts' is something different to y'all down south.

But it is expensive... Two units of 3 shelves each, with grow lights and heating blankets on each shelf leads to a substantial dependence on the grid.

The low-tech or off-grid solution, raised beds with low-tunnel covers tends to be the better method - except in that you still need starts to go into the low-tunnels... Still a dependence, but with much less longevity.

[Elderberry]

I have done a bit of this... Growing starts particularly... Since we can't put anything in the ground till June, 'starts' is something different to y'all down south.

But it is expensive... Two units of 3 shelves each, with grow lights and heating blankets on each shelf leads to a substantial dependence on the grid.

The low-tech or off-grid solution, raised beds with low-tunnel covers tends to be the better method - except in that you still need starts to go into the low-tunnels... Still a dependence, but with much less longevity.

You missed the part that they are not using light at all. Its done chemically. Completely in the dark. No grow lights are used.

I've used grow light starts even here in the deep south to get a jump on the season.

[roamer_1]

You missed the part that they are not using light at all. Its done chemically. Completely in the dark. No grow lights are used.

I've used grow light starts even here in the deep south to get a jump on the season.

Evidently I will have to read more carefully...